Liverpool fans stage sit-in after Reds draw with Sunderland

Liverpool fans staged a sit-in protest against owners
Tom Hicks and
George Gillett after seeing their side draw 2-2 with Sunderland in a controversial clash at Anfield.

Reds supporters are desperate for the club to be bought by owners prepared to invest in the team, with already strong feelings against the current board heightened by Liverpool’s poor start under new manager Roy Hodgson .

Angry Liverpool fans protested against the club’s owners (PA)

A section of supporters refused to leave Anfield after the final whistle and unfurled banners reading ‘Against Modern Football’, ‘Yank Liar$ Out’ and ‘You’ve Done Enough Damage’, together with a drawing of a giant phallus decorated with the name of the club’s managing director Christian Purslow.

The fans were applauded by local heroes Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard as they returned to the pitch to warm down.

Hodgson could be forgiven for hoping the demonstration overshadows the result, as Liverpool failed to win for the fifth time in six Premier League games this season.

The Reds took the lead thanks to a hugely controversial goal in the fifth minute.

Sunderland were awarded a free-kick and Michael Turner knocked the ball back towards Simon Mignolet for the goalkeeper to take it. Fernando Torres intercepted and referee Stuart Attwell, thinking that Turner had taken the free-kick, waved play on.

Torres then played in the fit again Dirk Kuyt to score, prompting angry protests from the visitors.